IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, BUT "PATIENCE," THE PRICELESS VIRTUE

                  THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT ALL
“…let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature, sanctified) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). * “… BY GRACE have ye been “SAVED”THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD ; not of WORKS , that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATIONby the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB). “…. WORK OUT your OWN SALVATION…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).  The SOUL is SAVED and then it is SANCTIFED by the working out of your own SALVATION through the empowering help of the indwelling Holy Spirit and faith in the truth. God enables you to restore (return or bring back) the SOUL to WHOLENESS. “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB). Restore it (soul) to what? Bring it back to what? Return it to what? Restoration is the process of sanctification of the SAVED person. Working out your OWN salvation will help you return to the original created glory and holiness. What was the original glory and holiness? Back in the Garden of Eden, God said, “…. LET US MAKE man (woman) in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).  “….. GOD CREATED MAN (woman) in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). This is what the bible says about God: “… THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). “….THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE…” (DEUTERONOMY 6:4 KJV). “…THERE IS NO GOD, BUT ONE…” (1 CORINTHIANS 8:4 KJV). Therefore, God said, “…. LET US MAKE man … after our likeness…”(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body),and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…”(GENESIS 2:7 KJV). The scriptures say, “…I pray …your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:23 KJV). “…the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow (body)…” (HEBREWS 4:12 KJV). “…the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).“….. GOD CREATED MAN in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).Restoration is simply a part of the salvation process. You are restored to God’s Spirit and you have become ALIVE again. “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a LIVING SOUL (soul)…”(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).When you say, “I AM SAVED;” you  are saying, you “WERE”  a spiritually“DEAD” soul and “… separated from the LIFE of God …” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). “… It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE …” (John 6:63 NASB). Before you were SAVED “…YOU… were DEAD in your transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1 NIV).“… YOU were DEAD in your sins and ... [NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [you]… all [your]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). God “….made [you]… ALIVE with Christ …when [you]… were DEAD in transgressions…” (Ephesians 2:5 NIV). Like the prodigal son, “… [YOU (were]…. DEAD and [you have been made]… ALIVE AGAIN; [you were]… lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).If you were made “ALIVE AGAIN” you were DEAD first. The soul was a DEAD soul. The appetites of the DEAD soul had its effects or influences on you. The effect and influence of the DEAD SOUL is evident through the longings, cravings, or hungers from its demands. “….YOU (your DEAD soul) USED TO LIVE in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations (effects) of our sinful nature (dead soul).….just like everyone else…” (Ephesian 2:2-3 NLT).Spiritually DEAD souls express the sinful nature. “… The sin of my SOUL …” (Micah 6:7 KJV). The spiritually DEAD soul is heavily affected by carnality. “…. When you follow the desires (influences) of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these . Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. …” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).However, if you can say “I AM SAVED now; then you are ALIVE. God, through the GIFT of Salvation restored your DEAD soul and you are free from the control of SIN, “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB). “IN” Christ you (your DEAD soul) has been restored and made “ALIVE AGAIN.” (Luke 15:24 NIV). The SOUL is saved (delivered, made whole, freed). The SOUL works out or walks out its own SALVATION (deliverance, wholeness, freedom). “…. WORK OUT your OWN SALVATION…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).  Working out your SALVATION is the PROCESS for the PURPOSES of SANCTIFICATION. “God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB).Salvation includes your past, your present, and your future. You are SAVED (past), BEING SANCTIFIED (present), and have ETERNAL LIFE (future). “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ , and thou shalt be SAVED…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV).  “….ye are SANCTIFIED …in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT of our GOD…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV). “…The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).  In one of my books I talk about spiritual PROCESS being infused into daily routine, which can became mundane, and involve long stretches of time. Spiritual training, practice, shaping, conditioning, and molding can actually become a part of your daily routine.Training means to strengthen one’s information skills and abilities through a sequence of actions and movements that include tasks which result in gaining knowledge where there was none. “… GROW (develop) in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Timothy 3:18 NIV). You begin to LEARN about God.Practice is the work that is required to sustain or cement those new skills and strengths. “…Beconformed to the image of his Son...” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). What you begin to LEARN you start putting into practice.Training for new skills and abilities and practicing them is the ideal way to SHAPE new behavior. “…transformed by the renewing (shaping) of [my] mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).  As you begin to practicing what you've learned it becomes experience that starts to shape NEW behavior.Conditioning is when training, practice, and shaping become the new, habitually response to the situations and circumstances of life. “…until we …become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV). The NEW behavior becomes your NEW familiar.Molding becomes apparent when the sequence of actions and movements from specific tasks result in a new skill or ability one desires or prefers to repeat.. “… [Therefore]… we all … are changed (molded) into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV). Your NEW behavior becomes FAMILIAR, comfortable, and a lifestyle you desire to live.The PROCESS of becoming Christlke, however, is mostly made up of daily, boring, mundane routines and long stretches of time. Yet to benefit from the untold blessings and miraculously favors of PROCESS; you must take the journey. Because of the various stages of PROCESS in my life, thus far, I have become what I am. “…by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). Much of the content of this book and others I have written come from my personal experiences with PROCESS.It is a GREAT temptation to abort the PROCESS. We live in convenient and short-cut times where instant results are preferred. In PROCESS, God’s timing takes precedence. The Sovereign God says, “…"This is the way; walk in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV). “… I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV).Unless you go the path of PROCESS God has instructed you to GO; you won’t finish the journey the WAY God intended for you to FINISH and SUCCEED.It is IN patient endurance that you learn. It is IN patient endurance you are enabled to possess, or acquire, or restore, sanctify, or gain back your soul (life). “…In your patience (endurance) POSSESS you your souls…” (Luke 21:19 KJV).It is asked in scripture, “… what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and LOSE HIS OWN SOUL ?” (Mark 8:36 KJV).“….he that winneth SOULS is wise…” (Proverbs 11:30 KJV).“…he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall SAVE A SOUL from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins…” (James 5:20 KJV).After a person is SAVED, they must – through the indwelling Spirit and faith in the truth -  “…. WORK OUT [their]… own salvation…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).   Working out your own SALVATION includes: “… Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS….” (James 1:21 NASB). “… Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life…” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV).“…you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor…” (Ephesians 4:25 NLT).  “….Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away fromyou, with all malice…” (Ephesians 4:31 KJV).“….now ye also put offall these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth….” (Colossians 3:8  KJV).“…Wherefore laying asideall malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” (1 Peter 2:1 KJV).Working out your SALVATION takes TIME and it OFTEN takes LONG stretches of TIME (days, weeks, months, or even years). However, “… WAIT ON the LORD : …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). “…My brethren ….the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have itsperfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow.So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing….” (James 1:2-4 NLT). In the last chapter we talked about the GIFT of TIME. TIME often consists of LONG periods of WAITING. WAITING requires PATIENT ENDURANCE. PATIENT ENDURANCE is something that must FULLY develop in order for YOU to mature.“…My brethren ….the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV).“…Dear brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing….” (James 1:2-4 NLT). What is PATIENCE? PATIENCE is a calm, content, and non-complaining heart attitude that develops from A LONG endurance of submitting to God’s will while expecting and waiting for his DIVINE justice or promises to come to pass. “…We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with PATIENCEwait for it...” (Romans 8:24-25 KJV).“…. Wait PATIENTLY for the Lord . Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait PATIENTLYfor the Lord….” (Psalms 27:14 NLT).“….Rest in the Lord, and wait PATIENTLYfor him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass…” (Psalms 37:7 KJV).“… I waited PATIENTLYfor the Lord ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry…” (Psalms 40:1 KJV).“… Abraham waited PATIENTLY , and he received what God had promised…” (Hebrews 6:15 NLT).PATIENCE becomes a supernatural ability to endure offenses, pain, insults, rejection, and other injuries without a negative heart attitude, or vengeful anger, or a desire for retribution. “…. WE PROVE OURSELVES by our purity, our understanding, our PATIENCE, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit WITHIN us, and by our sincere love…” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT).  “… Be PATIENT toward all men…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV).  “… Be PATIENT with everyone…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT). “…A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be PATIENT with difficult people…” (2 Timothy 2:24 NLT). You are DEVELOPING.Patience is a hybrid of humility. “….PATIENCE is better than pride…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NLT). “…the PATIENT in spirit is better than the proud in spirit…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV). “…Always be HUMBLE and gentle. Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faultsbecause of your love…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).To be patience is a willful determination to suffer, endure, or wait for God to act through injustices and offenses without complaint or discontent. “…Rejoicing in hope; PATIENT IN TRIBULATION; continuing instant in prayer…” (Romans 12:12 KJV). “…The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait PATIENTLYfor God’s promises to be fulfilled….” (Romans 15:4 KJV).The variant grammatical spellings of the word patient, in the Old or New Testaments, basically mean “to wait,” “to expect,” “to hope for,” “longsuffering,” “endurance,” or “steadfastness.”PATIENCE is a challenging trait to develop, but even more challenging to sustain.
“… We are PATIENT with those who abuse us…” (1 Corinthians 4:12 NLT). “… Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can PATIENTLYendure the same things we suffer…” (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT). “… We PATIENTLYendure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind…” (2 Corinthians 6:4 NLT).PATIENCE is gleaned by depending relentlessly on God, trusting uncompromisingly in his Divine will, expecting his absolute goodness, and relying on the enablement of his indwelling Holy Spirit. “…PATIENT endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you WILL receive all that he has promised…”(Hebrews 10:36 NLT).The 21stcentury is fast paced and most people are barely willing to wait the few seconds for a red traffic light to turn green.Patience involves a willingness to wait on God and his Divine will whether it takes days, weeks, months, or years. “…God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you PATIENTLYendure unjust treatment…” (1 Peter 2:19 NLT).When waiting and expecting God to fulfill his promises, exact injustices, and wroth his divine will, believers need the fruit of patience. “….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law….” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “… The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT). “… [You]… are given...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to PATIENCE godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…”(2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).Patience is obviously a fruit of the Spirit, which makes it a trait of God’s divine nature. “…Now the God of PATIENCE and consolation…” (Romans 15:5 KJV). “…the fruit of the Spirit is … longsuffering (patience)….” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).God has the AWESOME ability to tolerate suffering and offenses, with loving mercy, and patient endurance; also known as longsuffering. “…The Lord is not slack …but is longsuffering to us-ward…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV).Patience is not just a trait you can simple choose to acquire; it is a trait summoned by Godly LOVE. “… Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…every one that loveth …. KNOWETH God . He that loveth NOT KNOWETH NOT God; for God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).Godly love is the motivation behind all acts of patience. “… Love “IS” PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “… if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have NOT LOVE, I AM NOTHING. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have NOT LOVE, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).“….LOVE is the fulfillment of the law…” (Romans 13:10 NIV).“….Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM: for this is the law and the prophets….” (Matthew 7:12 KJV).“….Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself…” (Matthew 22:39 KJV).“…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another…” (John 13:34 KJV).“…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).“…For all the law is fulfilled in one word, evenin this; Thou shalt LOVE THEY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF….” (Galatians 5:14 KJV).“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt LOVE THEY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF, ye do well…” (James 2:8 KJV).“…Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets…” (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV).“… Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of YOUR LOVE…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT). “…all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…" (John 13:35 NASB). “… Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).“… God is LOVE …” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).